Earth Matters

NASA Supports Drought Resilience in the American West

July 13th, 2021 by By Amber Jenkins, NASA's Western Water Applications Office

The American West is in the grip of an exceptional drought. Following one of the planet’s hottest years on record — and with rainfall and snowfall in the western U.S. well below average — water managers, policymakers, government agencies, and scientists are facing strapped water supplies and anticipating potentially devastating wildfires. 

The USDA-NASA Crop-CASMA product shows soil moisture anomalies — where moisture was above
or below normal — across the continental U.S. in early June 2021.

Using its satellites, aircraft, and computer models, NASA is helping water managers respond. NASA’s drought resource page details how the agency is helping farmers, reservoir managers, and decision makers track and monitor the ongoing droughtpredict how much water will be available, and help improve how we use the water we have. The site will be updated throughout the year.

Underpinning all of this is NASA’s expertise in water scienceour partnerships with water managers across the country, and our leadership in space and remote-sensing technology. 

Learn more at the drought resource page.

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One Response to “NASA Supports Drought Resilience in the American West”

  1. Mike says:

    Thank you!